FACE Amusement Group Welcomes David Knight as Vice President of Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown

Veteran Hospitality Executive Brings Decades of Operational Leadership Across Resort, Casino and Entertainment Destinations

Johnson City, TN  (RestaurantNews.com)  FACE Amusement Group, a leading operator of entertainment experiences and hospitality brands across the United States, today announced the appointment of David Knight as vice president of Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown.

In partnership with famed chef, author and Emmy Award–winning television personality Guy Fieri, Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown is a 43,000-square-foot, immersive family entertainment destination designed to be a must-do experience for visitors and locals alike in key tourism markets, including Pigeon Forge and Myrtle Beach.

The venue combines a 300-plus-seat restaurant showcasing Fieri’s signature culinary creations with a 14-lane duckpin bowling alley; more than 10,000 square feet of state-of-the-art arcade and virtual reality games; a full-service Freaky Tiki bar; a photo opportunity featuring an iconic 1968 Chevy Camaro; and flexible spaces for private parties, group events and celebrations.

Knight brings more than two decades of hospitality and gaming operations experience to the role. He most recently served as vice president of operations at Liv Hospitality, LLC, where he oversaw operational performance at two casino resorts in Deadwood, South Dakota. His background includes senior leadership positions across resort, casino and large-scale entertainment environments nationwide.

“David brings disciplined operational leadership and deep experience across complex hospitality environments,” said Bucky Mabe, CEO of FACE Amusement Group. “As Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown continues to scale as an entertainment-driven destination, his background in high-volume, experience-based venues will be critical to delivering consistency, energy and guest engagement across the brand.”

Prior to Liv Hospitality, Knight served Regional Director of Operations at Hogan Hospitality Group from 2013 to 2020 and as the owner and principal consultant at Online Business Consulting from 2010 to 2012. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino and Golden Nugget Las Vegas, overseeing entertainment-focused dining, nightlife, and guest experience operations.

“Downtown Flavortown is designed to be an all-encompassing entertainment experience,” David Knight said. “My focus is on building strong teams and operational systems that support high-energy environments where guests come to celebrate, connect and be entertained.”

Knight holds an MBA from LSU Shreveport, a bachelor’s degree in hospitality administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, certificate in artificial intelligence business strategies from University of California Berkeley and an associate degree in business computer programming from Clover Park Technical College.

In his new role, Knight will oversee operations, guest experience and strategic growth initiatives for Guy Fieri’s Downtown Flavortown, FACE Amusement Group’s flagship entertainment destination.

About FACE Amusement Group

FACE Amusement Group owns and operates a growing collection of entertainment experiences with locations throughout the United States. Specializing in good, clean, family fun, their unique amusement portfolio includes Arcade City, Big Top Arcade, Rockin’ Raceway Arcade, 7D Dark Ride Adventure, LuLu’s Beach Arcade and Mountain of Youth Ropes Course, The Mirror Maize, while their growing hospitality side of the business includes Guy’s Branson Kitchen and Bar as well as Downtown Flavortown Pigeon Forge and Downtown Flavortown Myrtle Beach that is opening in summer of 2026. With games of skill and rides that thrill, crazy mazes, and racetrack blazes, FACE Amusement Group showcases the newest interactive technology as families and friends compete for the ultimate prize – memories that will last a lifetime. 

FACE Amusement Group has received the Great Place to Work® recognition for its company for 2025 for the third year in a row. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at FACE Amusement Group.

In addition to providing exceptional entertainment options, the company’s core values of Faith, Attitude, Consistency and Excellence (FACE) drive its wide-reaching philanthropic efforts, including the unique Bear Hugs program. For every stuffed bear plush toy won in a FACE Amusement claw machine, the company donates another bear to a local charity. To date, FACE Amusement Group has donated nearly 20,000 stuffed bears to a variety of charities. FaceAmusement.com.